GB2530739A - Improvements in or relating to wearable monitors - Google Patents

Abstract

A mounting member 10, suitable for a wearable monitor 90, includes at least one flexible textile sensor (22, figure 2b) and a processing unit (44, fig 3a) configured to receive and process data from the textile sensor, comprises a mounting body 12. The mounting body 12 includes at least one textile sensor receiving formation (16, 18, figure 7) to receive and retain in a taught configuration a portion 20 of the textile sensor. The mounting body 12 also includes a processing unit retaining formation 42 to receive a processing unit (44, fig 3a) of a wearable monitor 90 and retain the processing unit in electrical contact with the retained taught portion 20 of the textile sensor.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO

WEARABLE MONITORS

This invention relates to a mounting member for a wearable monitor, a wearable monitor including such a mounting member, a garment including the said wearable monitor, and a garment for use with such a wearable monitor.

Wearable technology, and wearable monitors such as heart rate monitors, are becoming increasingly popular. Typically they include one or more sensors and a processing unit that is configured to receive and process data from the or each sensor.

According to a first embodiment of the invention there is provided a mounting member, for a wearable monitor including at least one flexible textile sensor and a processing unit configured to receive and process data from the or each textile sensor, the mounting member comprising a mounting body including: at least one textile sensor receiving formation to receive and retain in a taught configuration a portion of a corresponding textile sensor; and a processing unit retaining formation to receive a processing unit of a wearable monitor and retain the processing unit in electrical contact with the retained taught portion of the or each textile sensor.

The inclusion of at least one textile sensor receiving formation that retains in a taught configuration a portion of a corresponding textile sensor permits the inclusion of flexible textile sensors in an associated wearable monitor which can be worn comfortably against a wearer's body, while at the same time helping to ensure the reliable and repeatable transfer of data in the form of electrical pulses from the or each textile sensor to the processing unit.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of a processing unit retaining formation helps to further ensure the reliable and repeatable transfer of data from the or each textile sensor to the processing unit by reducing the risk of such data being lost, e.g. in the event of the processing unit moving out of electrical contact with the or each textile sensor.

Preferably the mounting member is selectively moveable between first and second configurations, the mounting member in the first configuration adopting a substantially flat arrangement in which the processing unit retaining formation is temporarily occluded, and the mounting member in the second configuration adopting an erect arrangement in which the processing unit retaining formation is open to receive a said processing unit.

The ability of the mounting member to selectively adopt a first flat configuration both assists in the manufacture and assembly of the mounting member and reduces the bulk of the mounting member which is helpful during, e.g. shipping of a garment incorporating the mounting member.

The mounting member selectively having a reduced bulk is also beneficial since it makes the mounting member less obtrusive in a garment when, for example, a user chooses on occasion to wear the garment without having a monitoring function and so elects to leave the processing unit separate from the garment.

Optionally the or each textile sensor receiving formation includes a first aperture.

The inclusion of a first aperture in the or each textile sensor receiving formation permits the or each corresponding textile sensor to pass from a first side of the mounting body where it is able, e.g. to lie against the body of a wearer, to a second side of the mounting body where it can, e.g. be retained taught in readiness for establishing an electrical connection with the processing unit.

Such an arrangement also permits, in use, a spacing of the processing unit from the body of a wearer so as to avoid any discomfort arising from, e.g. a hard, rigid processing unit coming into contact with the body of a wearer.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the or each textile sensor receiving formation includes first and second spaced apertures between which in use the said portion of a corresponding textile sensor extends and is held taught.

Such an arrangement desirably defines the length, i.e. size, of the retained taught portion of the or each textile sensor, and so assists a manufacturing operative in, e.g. assembling a garment including a wearable monitor of which the mounting member forms a part.

In addition, the aforementioned arrangement allows a first end, e.g. an unfinished end, of a corresponding textile sensor to be hidden, e.g. by passing the first end back through to the first side of the mounting body.

The first and second spaced apertures of the or each textile sensor receiving formation may be defined by respective first and second parallel-spaced slots.

This helps to hold the retaining taught portion of the corresponding textile sensor in a desired orientation, e.g. relative to a garment in which the mounting member is located.

Optionally the processing unit retaining formation includes first and second side walls between which extends a resiliently deformable membrane to define a retaining chamber.

Having a portion of the retaining chamber defined by a resiliently deformable membrane permits a user to readily insert a processing unit into the retaining chamber while also helping to drive the processing unit (when so inserted into the retaining chamber) into engagement with the or each textile sensor so as to establish reliable electrical communication therewith.

Preferably each side wall is foldable relative to a remaining portion of the mounting body in which the or each textile sensor receiving formation is located.

Such an arrangement helps to allow the mounting member to move between a first flat configuration and a second erect configuration.

In addition, it permits each side wall to be created from a single planar member that, e.g. defines also the remainder of the mounting body, without any substantial secondary processing.

It also facilitates the fixing of the resiliently deformable membrane to each side wall by allowing both the respective side wall and the membrane to lie flat during such fixing.

Each side wall may be formed from first and second side wall panels folded relative to one another.

Adopting such a folded arrangement provides each side wall with an increased degree of rigidity to desirably retain and protect the processing unit.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the first and second side wall panels of each side wall include mutually engageable retention formations to retain the first and second side wall panels folded relative to one another.

Such mutually engageable retention formations desirably hold the mounting member in an assembled condition.

In a still further preferred embodiment of the invention the second side wall panel of each side wall includes a tab formation cooperable with a slot formation in the corresponding first side wall panel to retain the first and second side wall panels folded relative to one another.

Each of the tab formation and the slot formation is readily formable from a single, planar member which goes on to define the whole of the mounting body. This greatly simplifies the manufacture and assembly of the mounting member and so helps to reduce its unit cost.

Preferably the resiliently deformable membrane is fixedly secured to each side wall via the corresponding tab formation of the second side wall panel thereof.

Securing the membrane in such a manner means that when each tab formation is inserted into the corresponding slot formation, i.e. during manufacture and assembly of the mounting member, the membrane subsequently acts to urge each tab formation into its inserted position and so acts to retain the processing unit retaining formation defined thereby in its assembly condition.

Optionally the mounting body additionally includes a securing formation located between the or each textile sensor receiving formation and an adjacent edge of the mounting body.

The inclusion of such a securing formation permits the use of a single stitch formation to both secure a textile sensor to the mounting body and secure the mounting body to a sensing band which is or forms a part of a garment.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a wearable monitor, for a garment, comprising a sensing band which in use extends against the body of a wearer, the sensing band having first and second mutually spaced textile sensors and a mounting member as described hereinabove secured thereto, a portion of each textile sensor being held taught by a respective textile sensor receiving formation of the mounting member, and the processing unit retaining formation of the mounting member selectively removeably retaining a processing unit in electrical contact with each retained taught portion of the first and second textile sensors.

The wearable monitor shares the benefits associated with the corresponding features of the mounting member included therein.

Preferably a sensing portion of each of the first and second textile sensors lies adjacent to a first side of the sensing band to in-use sit against the body of a wearer and the mounting member lies adjacent to a second side of the sensing band opposite the first side.

Such an arrangement spaces the processing unit form the body of a wearer and so renders the wearable monitor comfortable as well as allowing easy access to the processing unit, even while the wearable monitor is being worn.

The sensing band may include at least one textile sensor locating formation corresponding to each textile sensor.

The inclusion of at least one such textile sensor locating formation corresponding to each textile sensor desirably positions the or each textile sensor relative to the sensor band and, in turn, desirably positions the mounting member relative to the sensing band.

Optionally the sensing band includes first and second textile sensor locating formations corresponding to each textile sensor.

The inclusion of first and second textile sensor locating formations corresponding to each textile sensor completely constrains the position of each textile sensor relative to the sensing band.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the or each textile sensor locating formation is defined by a perforation in the sensing band.

Such a perforation can be formed readily during manufacture of, e.g. a conventional garment such as a brassiere, and so facilitates the incorporation of a wearable monitor according to the invention in a wide range of otherwise conventional garments.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a garment including a wearable monitor as described hereinabove.

Preferably the garment includes a concealed pocket incorporating the wearable monitor.

The provision of a concealed pocket. i.e. a pocket that is at least partially obscured or hidden in normal use, advantageously holds the wearable monitor while selectively permitting access to it for, e.g. removal and/or insertion of the processing unit thereof An interior portion of the concealed pocket may incorporate the sensing band of the wearable monitor.

Having an interior portion of the concealed pocket incorporate the sensing band of the wearable monitor conveniently positions the textile sensors of the wearable monitor against the body of a wearer while at the same time hiding the wearable monitor from view.

is Optionally the concealed pocket is centred about a midpoint of a chest portion of the garment.

Positioning the concealed pocket in the aforementioned manner helps to ensure that it is readily accessible by either hand of a wearer, e.g. while exercising or undertaking other physical activity.

The garment may include a breast support arrangement and the concealed pocket may lie immediately below the breast support arrangement Such an arrangement permits the ready concealment of the pocket while helping to ensure the garment remains comfortable to wear.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the concealed pocket is selectively openable and closeable and when opened provides access to the mounting member of the wearable monitor whereby the processing unit of the wearable monitor is selectively insertable into or removeable from the processing unit retaining formation of the mounting member.

Having a concealed pocket that is selectively openable and closeable desirable ensures that the wearable monitor, and more particularly the processing unit thereof, remains safe and secure, while at the same time allowing easy removal of the processing unit, e.g. for charging and/or data transfer purposes.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a garment, for use with a wearable monitor as described hereinabove, the garment comprising a concealed pocket to incorporate a wearable monitor, the concealed pocket being centred about a midpoint of a chest portion of the garment.

Positioning the concealed pocket in such a manner provides a user with ready access to the pocket with either hand irrespective of the type of exercise or activity being undertaken.

Preferably the garment includes a breast support arrangement and the concealed pocket lies immediately below the breast support arrangement.

Locating the concealed pocket in such a manner permits the ready concealment of the pocket while helping to ensure the garment remains comfortable to wear.

is Optionally the concealed pocket is selectively openable and closeable.

This desirable ensures that, e.g. a wearabte monitor, and more particularly the processing unit thereof, remains safe and secure when located in the pocket, while at the same time allowing easy removal of the processing unit, e.g. for charging and/or data transfer purposes.

There now follows a brief description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the following figures in which: Figure 1(a) shows a planar member which forms a part of a mounting member according to the invention; Figure 1(b) shows a partially assembled mounting member according to first embodiment of the invention; Figure 1(c) shows a fully-assembled mounting member according to the first embodiment of the invention in a first flat configuration; Figure 1(d) shows the fully-assembled mounting member shown in Figure 1(c) in a second erect configuration; Figure 2(a) shows a partially assembled wearable monitor according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 2(b) shows a partially exploded view of the wearable monitor shown in Figure 2(a); Figure 2(c) shows the wearable monitor shown in Figure 2(a) from an opposite side thereof; Figure 3(a) shows the wearable monitor shown in Figure 2(a) in a fully-assembled condition; Figure 3(b) shows a reverse side of a processing unit included in the wearable monitor shown in Figure 3(a); Figure 4(a) shows a sensing band which forms a part of the wearable monitor shown in Figure 3(a); Figure 4(b) shows a further schematic view of the sensing band shown in Figure 4(a); Figure 5(a) shows a front view of a garment according to a third embodiment of the invention including the wearable monitor shown in Figure 3(a); Figure 5(b) shows a perspective view from one side of the garment shown in Figure 5(a); IS Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the garment shown in Figure 5(a); and Figure 7 shows the interior shape of a concealed pocket which forms a part of the garment shown in Figure 5(a), A mounting member according to a first embodiment of the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 10, and is shown in various states of assembly in Figures 1(a) to 1(d).

The mounting member 10 includes a mounting body 12 which, in the embodiment shown and as illustrated in Figure 1(a), is formed from a single planar member 14. Preferably the single planar member 14 is or includes a woven polyester cloth such a sailcloth, e.g. an Ocean 655, Ocean 955, or Ocean 1155 sailcloth as manufactured by Bainbridge International Limited. Such materials desirably exhibit characteristics that place them between conventional textiles that typically are soft and flexible and plastics that are normally hard and rigid. In this manner they are softer but more rigid than conventional textiles and so can provide a structural and support function which still allows stitching therethrough and which is not unduly bulky or uncomfortable.

The mounting body 12 includes first and second textile sensor receiving formations 16: 18, each of which, in use, receives and retains in a taught configuration a portion 20 of a corresponding textile sensor 22 (not shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(d)).

More particularly, each textile sensor receiving formation 16, 18 includes first and second apertures 24, 26 that are spaced from one another, and between which in-use the said portion 20 of a corresponding textile sensor 22 extends and is held taught.

Each of the first and second apertures 24, 26 is defined by respective, corresponding first and second parallel-spaced slots 28, 30. Each first slot 28, i.e. each innermost slot 28, has tapered innermost side portions 32, 34 which act to increase the width of the first slot 28 towards a middle thereof in order to accommodate an embossed conductive portion 36 of a corresponding textile sensor 22 without deforming the said embossed conductive portion 36. Each second slot 30, i.e. each outermost slot 30, has parallel side portions 38, 40 which act to partially trap the aforementioned embossed conductive portion 36 of a corresponding textile sensor 22 therebetween to assist in initially positioning the textile sensor 22 relative to the mounting body 12.

In the embodiment shown each pair of first and second slots 28, 30 is spaced in parallel with one another in a lengthwise direction L of the mounting body 12, and so helps to maintain the orientation of corresponding textile sensors 22 which similarly extend in the lengthwise direction L. However, in other embodiments of the invention (not shown) the first and second slots 28, (or indeed any pair of first and second apertures 24, 26) may instead be spaced from one another in a widthwise direction W of the mounting body 12. In such a manner first and second slots (28, 30) so arranged help to maintain the orientation of corresponding textile sensors which extend instead in the widthwise direction W relative to the mounting body 12.

The mounting body 12 also includes a processing unit retaining formation 42 that, in use, receives a processing unit 44 (not shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(d)) of a wearable monitor and retains the processing unit 44 in electrical contact with the retained taught portion 20 of each textile sensor 22, as described in more detail below.

The processing unit retaining formation 42 includes first and second side walls 46, 48 between which extends a resiliently deformable membrane 50 so as to define a retaining chamber 52, as shown in Figure 1(d).

Preferably the membrane 50 is formed from a polyurethane material which resists tearing, e.g. when punctured by a needle. One example of a suitable polyurethane material is Freudenberg Group's SF.16.CL 1 polyurethane tape, although other elastomeric materials may also be used.

As shown, the membrane 50 is translucent so that visible feedback, e.g. in the form of S different coloured lights, from a processing unit 44 retained by the membrane 50 remains visible to a user while the processing unit 44 is so retained. The membrane 50 may also be transparent, include a transparent window, or include an opening therein so as to permit the visual functionality of the processing unit 44 to be maintained Each side wall 46, 48 is foldable relative to a remaining portion of the mounting body 12 in which the first and second textile sensor receiving formations 16, 18 are located.

In addition to the foregoing, each side wall 46, 48 is formed from first and second side wall panels 54A, 54B, 56A, 56B that are folded relative to one another, The first and second is side wall panels 54A, 54B, 56A, 56B include mutually engageable retention formations 58A, 58B to retain the first and second side wall panels 54A, 54B, 56A, 56B in their folded state.

More particularly, the second side wall panel 56A, 56B of each side wall 46, 48 includes a tab formation 60A, 60B that cooperates with a slot formation 62A, 62B in the corresponding first side wall panel 54A, 54B to hold the side wall panels 54A, 54B, 56A, 5GB in the said folded state.

In addition, each tab formation 60A, 60B includes a barb 64 at each side thereof to resist withdrawal of the given tab formation 60A, 60B from the corresponding slot formation 62A, 62B.

The membrane 50 is fixedly secured to each side wall 46, 48 via the corresponding tab formation 60A, 6DB of the second side wall panel 56A, 56B thereof, as best shown in Figure 1(b). Preferably the membrane 50 is so fixedly secured by way of a respective stitch formation 66 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1(b)). The membrane 50 may also be fixedly secured to each side wall 46, 48, via the corresponding tab formation 60A, 60B or otherwise, by ultrasonic welding or bonding.

Folding of the first and second side walls 46, 48 relative to the remainder of the mounting body 12, as mentioned above, while the mounting member 10 is partially assembled as shown in Figure 1(b), facilitates such stitching of the membrane 50 to each tab formation 60A, 60B. Other ways of fixedly securing may also be used however.

The mounting body 12 also includes a respective securing formation 68, 70 which is located between one of the textile sensor receiving formations 16, 18 and a corresponding adjacent edge 72, 74 of the mounting body 12.

In the embodiment shown, each securing formation 68, 70 includes a pair of apertures 76 which, in use, accommodate a securing stitch 78 (not shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(d)) to io secure the mounting body 12, he. the mounting member 10, to, e.g. a sensing band 80 (also not shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(d)) of a wearable monitor, and also retain a first end 82 of a corresponding textile sensor 22, as described in more detail below.

In use the mounting body 10 as a whole is able to move between a first configuration, e.g. is as shown in Figure 1(c), in which it adopts a substantially flat arrangement in which the processing unit retaining formation 42 is temporarily occluded, and a second configuration, e.g. as shown in Figure 1(d), in which the mounting body 10 adopts an erect arrangement in which the processing unit retaining formation 42 is open to receive a said processing unit 44 (not shown in Figure 1(d)).

A wearable monitor 90 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in a partially assembled form in, e.g. Figure 2(a). The wearable monitor 90 includes a sensing band 80, only a part of which is shown in Figure 2(a).

The sensing band 80, in use, extends against the body of a wearer, i.e. lies in contact with the body of a wearer, and has first and second mutually spaced textile sensors 22 (only one of which is shown in Figure 2(a)) and a mounting member 10 secured thereto.

Both the textile sensors 22 and the mounting member 10 are secured to the sensing band 90 by a single securing stitch 78 which extends through the pair of apertures 76 of the corresponding securing formation 68, 70 of the mounting body 12.

More particularly, each textile sensor 22 is arranged to pass from a first side 92 of the mounting body 12 through the first parallel-spaced slot 28, across a second side 94 of the mounting body 12 and back to the first side 92 through the second parallel-spaced slot 30, so that the first end 82 of the textile sensor 22 lies between the corresponding securing formation 68, 70 of the mounting body 12 and the sensing band 80, as best shown in Figure 2(b).

The single securing stitch 78 is therefore able to pass through each of the pair of apertures 76 of the corresponding securing formation 68, 70, the first end 82 of a respective textile sensor 22 and the sensing band 80, as shown in Figure 2(b), in order to secure them to one another. The single securing stitch 78 achieves this while having a minimal impact on a first side 96 of the sensing band 80, i.e. as shown in Figure 2(c). Such minimal impact is desirable since the first side 96 of the sensing band 80 lies directly against the body of a wearer during use of the wearable monitor 90.

Such securing of the respective textile sensors 22 and the mounting body 12 to the sensing band 80 also helps the corresponding textile sensor receiving formation 16, 18 of the mounting body 12 to hold a portion 20 of each textile sensor 22 taught.

The processing unit retaining formation 42 of the mounting member 10 selectively removeably retains a processing unit 44 in electrical contact with each retained taught portion 20 of the first and second textile sensors 22, as shown in figure 3(a).

In this regard, the processing unit 44 may be provided with first and second contact elements 98, 100 (as shown in Figure 3(b)) which, when the processing unit 44 is retained by the processing unit retaining formation 42, are held in abutting contact, i.e. in electrical contact, with a corresponding retained taught portion 20 of the first and second textile sensors 22.

In addition to the foregoing, a sensing portion 102 of each textile sensor 22 lies adjacent to the first side 96 of the sensing band 80, as shown in Figure 4(a). In this way, in use the sensing portions 102 sit against the body of a wearer. The mounting member 10 lies adjacent to a second side 104 of the sensing band 80, and so is spaced from the body of the wearer.

As shown most clearly in Figure 4(b), the sensing band 80 includes first and second textile sensor locating formations 106, 108 corresponding to each textile sensor 22. Each textile sensor locating formation 106, 108 is defined by a perforation 110 in the sensing band 80.

In other embodiments of the invention the sensing band may have a different shape to that shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), and it may have a different configuration of textile sensor locating formations.

A second end 112 of each textile sensor 22 is fixedly secured at or adjacent to the corresponding second textile sensor locating formation 108 in order to constrain the position of the corresponding textile sensor 22 relative to the sensing band 80. Further stitching (not shown) may extend along each sensing portion 102 of the textile sensors 22 so as to more fully constrain them with respect to the sensing band 80. One or both of the foregoing steps serves to positively locate the second end 112 of each textile sensor 22, and thereby help to retain the aforementioned portion 20 of each textile sensor taught in respect of the corresponding textile sensor receiving formation 16, 18 of the mounting body 12.

A garment 120 including a second wearable monitor 90', which is very similar to the first wearable monitor 90 described hereinabove, is shown in each of Figures 5(a), 5(b) and 6.

The garment 120 includes a concealed pocket 122, i.e. a pocket that is partially obscured or hidden, which incorporates the second wearable monitor 90'. More particularly, an interior portion 124 of the concealed pocket 122 incorporates a second sensing band 80' in the form an interior panel 126 of the concealed pocket 122.

The concealed pocket 122 and the associated interior panel 126, i.e. the second sensing band 80' that it defines, has the general shape shown in Figure 7. Otherwise, i.e. apart from its outer shape, the second sensing band 80' is identical to the first sensing band 80 (which is shown in dashed outline in Figure 7 by way of comparison).

In the meantime the concealed pocket is centred about a midpoint 128 of a chest portion of the garment 120. More particularly, the garment 120 includes a breast support arrangement 132 in the form of first and second breast cups 134, 136, and the concealed pocket 122 lies immediately below the breast support arrangement 132.

In the particular embodiment shown the concealed pocket 122 lies within a chest support band 138 that extends around the body of the wearer, although this need not necessarily be the case.

The concealed pocket 122 is selectively openable and closeable by way of a zipped opening 140, although other types of opening are also possible. When opened the concealed pocket 122 provided access to the mounting member 10 of the wearable monitor 90, as shown in Figure 6, and so permits a user to selectively insert or remove the processing unit 44 of the wearable monitor 90 from the processing unit retaining formation 42 of the mounting member 10.

In other embodiments of the invention the garment may take a different form, and need not necessarily include a breast support arrangement.